Prolonged ECMO in two children with severe ARDS.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Urlesberger.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Better understanding of respiratory physiology and progress in ventilator technology have contributed to improved mortality and morbidity of premature neonates. Yet, pulmonary complications remain high and there is no consensus about the optimal regimen of mechanical ventilation. We report our satisfactory 10-year experience with conventional mechanical ventilation based on a relatively low incidence of pulmonary barotrauma. The introduction of surfactant has facilitated the ventilatory management of premature neonates since the usually rapid improvement of the acute lung disease after surfactant administration allows for earlier weaning from mechanical ventilation. However, our own results and the results from most surfactant studies show no significant reduction in the incidence of intraventricular haemorrhage. Thus, though mechanical ventilation and surfactant administration are milestones in neonatal therapeutic management, the problems encountered in very low birth weight neonates both with respect to mortality and morbidity have not been generally solved and underline the role of optimal perinatal management.
No detailed information is available about the timing and correlation of objectively gauged ventricular width (VW) and the rate of growth of the occipitofrontal circumference in premature infants with intraventricular haemorrhage preceding progressive ventricular dilation. For this study, two groups were selected according to clinical course: group A (n = 6) had ventriculomegaly with no signs of raised intracranial pressure, while patients in group B (n = 7) developed progressive ventricular dilation after a period of latency. A VW between 0.9 and 1.4 cm (group A) did not affect normal head growth, whereas a VW greater than 1.5 cm was always associated with the development of hydrocephalus. Our data further suggest that the widely used criterion of a head growth rate of more than 2 cm/week is a relatively poor criterion for the definition of post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In order to measure the intracranial pressure (ICP) of 8 newborn with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (group A) we used the noninvasive technique via the anterior fontanel (Ladd monitor). The ICP was monitored in two different head positions (30 degrees elevated, horizontal). The median measurements were: elevated head position, 13 mm Hg, horizontal head position, 16 mm Hg. For comparative reasons, we also measured the ICP of 12 healthy newborns (group B). The median results were: elevated head position, 4 mm Hg, horizontal head position, 6.5 mm Hg. Significant differences were found between groups.
BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to analyze neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with TPE. PATIENTS: 46 preterm infants with a birthweight (BW) < or = 1500 g were included in the study. They all had TPE in parieto-occipital location (some combined with frontal flares). Exclusion criteria were PVL II-IV, intraventricular hemorrhage, asphyxia and isolated frontal TPE. METHOD: We analyzed ultrasound scans (1992 - 2001) of patients with TPE (diameter > 1 cm, visible in both sagittal and coronal planes, duration > 7 days), and neurological follow-up visits (date of demission, corrected age of 4, 8, 12 months, and after that every 2 years until 6 years of age) regarding the neurodevelopmental outcome. We devided the patients in group 1 (duration of TPE 8 - 14 days) and group 2 (duration of TPE > 14 days) and then analyzed the groups regarding neurodevelopmental disorders and factors increasing the risk of occurrence of TPE. RESULTS: From 1992 - 2001 578 children < or = 1500 g were admitted at our department. 48 patients (8,3 %) fulfilled the entry criteria, 2 of them died, so 46 were included in the study. In group 1 (10 patients) the median gestational age (GA) was 28 weeks (range 25 - 31), median BW 1075 g (range 685 - 1430), 6 children were neurologically unimpaired, one developed a motor handicap, and 3 a psychomotor retardation. In group 2 (36 patients) the median GA was 28 weeks (range 25 - 35), median BW 1034,5 g (range 540 - 1470), 24 patients were neurologically unimpaired, 7 developed a motor handicap, and 5 a psychomotor retardation. No statistical difference was found between the groups neither in neurodevelopmental outcome nor factors increasing the risk of the occurrence of TPE. CONCLUSIONS: Obviously, the finding of TPE is of clinical relevance already at a duration of only 7 days regarding later neurological development.
BACKGROUND: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used as a vasodilator in pulmonary hypertension (PH) of the newborn infant. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients, who were treated at our department with iNO in the period from 1994-2001. Response was defined as an increase of the paO (2)/FiO (2) Ratio > or = 20 % and/or a decrease of the oxygenation index (OI) >/= 20 % after 2 h (early response), and consecutively after 24 h (late response). The patients were divided into a) primary persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newbom (PPHN), or b) pulmonary hypertension secondary to meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), sepsis or congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2001 we treated 47 patients with iNO at our neonatal intensive care unit. We included 16 (35 %) preterm infants (GA 34,5 [25 - 37] weeks, GG 2061 [680 - 3410] g) (Median/Range) and 31 (65 %) newbom (GA 40 [38 - 42] weeks, GG 3510 [2550 - 4560] g). 18 (38 %) patients suffered from primary PPHN, 29 (62 %) from secondary PPHN (14 MAS [30 %], 8 sepsis [17 %], 4 CDH [8 %]). 8 (50 %) preterm and 20 (64 %) term infants showed a positive iNO response after 2 h, again 8 (50 %) preterm and 20 (64%) term infants showed a positive iNO response after 24 h. There was neither a significant difference between term and preterm infants at 2 h, nor at 24 h. Between 2 h and 24 h 10 patients changed in their response to iNO. 5 (18 %) patients with early response showed a significant degradation after 24 h, whereas 5 (26 %) of the patients without early response showed a significant improvement of the oxygenation alter 24 h. Alltogether 13 (72 %) patients with PPHN, 8 (57 %) with MAS, 2 (50 %) with CDH, 4 (50 %) with sepsis showed a positive iNO response after 24 h. In regard to the oxygenation parameters at start of iNO-therapy, the patients with early response did not differ from the patient without response (median OI: 20,0 versus 21,8, median paO (2)/FiO (2) Ratio: 59,3 versus 55,0 mmHg at the start of the iNO therapy). CONCLUSION: In regard to iNO response, there was no significant difference between term and preterm infants. Due to the changing response, a positive iNO-response after 2 h had no predictive value for the further prognosis of the oxygenation situation under iNO therapy.
A newborn with congenital varicella complicated by varicella pneumonia was transferred to our hospital on day 16 of life for the consideration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The newborn received varicella zoster immunoglobulin 13 hours after birth since the mother developed a varicella exanthema two days before delivery. On day 10 of life the newborn became clinically symptomatic with red macules and pustules. The chest roentgenogram revealed reticular pulmonary infiltrates in the right upper lobe. Antibacterial chemotherapy was initiated. In the following days the cutaneous lesions progressed, and respiratory symptoms like tachypnoea and oxygen dependence occurred. Chest roentgenograms revealed diffuse reticular and patchy pulmonary infiltrates. On day 14 of life antiviral chemotherapy with acyclovir was started. ECMO was initiated in the veno-arterial mode on day 17 due to severe respiratory failure despite maximal conventional assisted ventilation and carried out for 14 days. With the age of 10 weeks he was discharged from the hospital with mild chronic lung disease without oxygen requirements and without neurological handicap. ECMO might be considered as life saving support in newborns with severe congenital varicella, considered to have a high mortality risk.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.